Germantown Academy - Ye Primer Yearbook (Fort Washington, PA)

Page 31 text:

Never were the needs of the country so clearly perceived as by that great statesman who was characterized by his unflinching cour- age, his persistent devotion to duty and his high scorn of anything petty or mean. To Sumner more than to any other one man this country owes the prevention of war with Eng- land and France, when such a war would have meant the disruption of the Union. And what shall we say of Lincoln and Grant? How well it has been said, Une may set up a pole and mark notches upon it and label them with the names of Caesar, Crom- well, Napoleon and even VVashington, and may measure these men against each other and dispute and discuss their respective places. But Lincoln cannot be brought to this poleg he cannot enter in any such competition. Not necessarily because he was greater than any of these men, for before this could be asserted how is greatness to be estimated? VVith Grant we are all familiar, though perhaps as a general better than a statesman, but his iron will, indomitable courage, tireless patience and a persistence and pertinacity that knew no li1nit, characterized him as a states- man also. He left behind him a record of achievements in behalf of his country, which might of itself have entitled him to fame had he never been a soldier. During his period of service the reconstruction of the Union was completed, the rash proceedings in the South were repressed and the heavy taxes rendered necessary by war were reduced. Chief among his works must also be reckoned the rescu- ing of the nation from threatened repudiation and financial dishonor, and the leading of the way to the restoration of a sound currency. At a time when our relations with Great Britain were strained near to the breaking point, Grant said: I would deal with nations as equitable law requires individuals to deal with each other. In this spirit he sought and secured settlement of all differences by arbitra- tion, which service thus rendered to the coun- try and to humanity was an incalculable benefit. And we must not forget the statesman who said: HI had rather be right than be President -Henry Clay. For nearly half a

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OUR FAMOUS STA TESMEN 1.c1ci1'ffs and Gmzfle11'1c1z.' Perhaps during any two centuries of its existence, no nation on the globe can boast of as many and illustrious statesmen as our own country. From the time when our fore- fathers declared that taxation without repre- sentation is unjustf' when they first beheld liberty looming up before them, from that time our country has been the fertile soil from which have sprung some of the purest of his- torical characters. Characterized by their patience, justice, heroism and truth, they stand forth as beacon lights in our history. They are known by that same courage and spirit which was ever pre- eminent in the early colonists. By this spirit alone the colonies grew and became prosper- ous, by our statesmen endowed with this same integrity, love of freedom and justice they were united into one nation and then later the unity of this nation was preserved by one whose statesmanship is unparalleled in our history. France has its art, Italy its music. It is generally conceded that Germany excels in science and England in wealth and power, but for the greatest and best statesmen our own beloved country stands at the head. ' VVas it by stratagem or good luck that we are to-day independent Americans? Not so, but rather is it due to that wise, noble and courageous statesman and general, George Vlfashington. It is due to the remarkable tact and genius of Franklin and Jefferson. VVhat could measure our indebtedness to Wfebster and Clay, who by their wise super- vision settled our great questions of currency and finance? By the eloquence and bound- less activity of Hamilton the Constitution was put through and then by his aid the impover- ished country was placed on the road to pros- perity.

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century this man was tl1e most conspicuous figure i11 .'X1llCi1'iC2l.l1 politics, tl1e 111ost inHuen- tial statesman i11 the councils of tl1e 11ation. The great 1112111 111issed tl1e Presidency, but he did 11ot miss tl1e love of a Whole 11ation. Ti111e permits 111e to me11tio11 but o11e more, tl1e best known to us all, a11d perhaps the best loved because l1e is ours, is with us to-day, President Roosevelt. His alertness of mind, courage. capacity for l1ard work, his XV2l'CCl1fllll1CSS over tl1e people Elllil their inter- ests have stirred i11 every American citizen their good will toward tl1is 111a11. Tl1e career of no states111an has bee11 n1ore brilliant and successful tl1at his, a11d what great work tl1e future l1as i11 store for him we cannot tell. To-day l1e stands before us, a true type of fX1Tl6l'lC2l1'1lS111, a model, an example to every you11g man. Can we 11ot draw somethi11g from tl1e lives of every 0116 of tl1ese, our famous states- 111611, which shall make us 111ore worthy to be called citizens of tl1is free a11d liberty-loving land? Tl1ese 111en are rare in tl1e public life of a11y 11atio11, and when We depart from the principles wl1icl1 tl1ey believed 3.1'1Cl practiced, we may well tremble for tl1e permanence of our government, for, as Lowell said, this will endure o11ly so long as tl1e ideas of tl1e found- ers remain predo111inant. The lives of those 111611 wl1o by their acl1ieve111e11ts and statesmanship succeeded in setti11g tl1is republic on its feet, and laying securely tl1e fO1.l1'lCl2l,lIlO11S 1113011 which has been built the greatest, freest and strongest nation of which the historyhof 1'1'13.1'1lil11Cl furnishes any record, should be a constant inspiration to every true American to-night, 2I1'1Cl teacl1 that life with some definite and noble purpose is worth livi11g. OLNEY RANDALL PAYNE.